Air moistening and cleaning device



Aprll 26 .2 H; J. SCHMITT AIR MOI-STEKING AND CLEANINGDEVICE BY ATTORNEY.

Y Y INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

HENRY J. SGHMITT, OF EMSWOR'IH. BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE- HALI" 'TO WILLIAM H. YOUNG, OF AVALON, PENNSYLVANIA.

. AIR MOISTENINQ AND CLEAN ING DEVICE.

7 Application filed May 12, 1925. Serial No. 29,741.

The object which I have in view is the provision of a new and improved moistening device through which the air is drawn as it passes to the carburetter.

For this purpose I provide a container which is interposed in the carburetter air supply, and in which is mounted an annular water-tank through the center opening or bore of which the air is drawn, wicks having one end portion immersed in the water in the tank and being disposed in and across the central bore so that said wicks intercept the current of air and thus impart their moisture.

I also provide means for supplying water to said tank, and for maintaining the supply of water therein.

Again the air taken into the carburetter especially in the case of a travelling vehicle carries in suspension considerable dirt, dust and particles of other foreign matter, and

- it is of decided advantage to remove such air is drawn at a point spaced above the bottom of the chamber, the air entering tangentially to the vertical axis of the chamber,

3 thereby forming a substantially horizontal eddy which causes the precipitation of the dirt, dust or other foreign matter to the bottom of the chamber. 4

The said chamber is preferably the container of the moistening device, the lower portion of the container being employed for cleansing the air before it is moistened.

- Other novel features of construction, and also of arrangement of parts will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a carbnretter with my improved air-moistener and cleaner installed in its air-supply; Fig. 2 is a vertical diametric section of the same on enlarged scale, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line III-III in Fig. 2.

'erably removable.

.4 which is connected in the usual manner with the inlet manifold of the engine. However the particular construction or type of carburettor is not important nor does it form in itself any part of my present invention, as the latter is applicable to any construction or type of carburetter.

5 is a container which may be of sheet metal and of cylindricalform. The bottom 6 of the container is preferably readily detachable. Thus I have shown it provided with an annular flange 7 which fits up within the container and is provided with outwardly extending pins 8 which engage an: gular slots 9 in the container walls as shown in Fig. 1. Thus the bottom is placed in position and given a part turn to lock it in As a matter of illusplace, or is given a reverse turn to' detach and remove it.

The lid 10 of the container is also pref- Thus I have shown it provided with a depending annular flange 11 which fits down over the top of the container, and screws 12 are inserted through holes in said flange and screwed into threaded holes in the wall of the container.

The lid 10 is provided with an axially located port 13 into which extends the airsupply pipe 3 of the carburetter 1. If desired the port 13 and the pipe 3 may be provided with threads for screw-engagement, as indicated in Fig. 2.

14 represents an annular, inclosed water tank of proper exterior diameter to fit down into the top of the container 5, being supported from below, as by the spaced apart brackets 15 secured to the inner walls of the container. 1

The cross-sectional shape of the tank is preferably the downwardly tapered or wedge shape shown in Fig. 2, thus providing an axial throat 16 which converges upwardly lid. The extremity of the tube 3 preferably enters the upper end of the throat 16. The tank 14 is prevented from rotating or moving from its position relative to the container, as by means of a screw 17 extendin down through a hole in the lid 10 an screwed into a threaded hole in the top of the tank.

The tank is also provided in its top with a water-supply port 18 in which is fixed an upwardly extending and interiorly threaded bushing 19. 20 is an exteriorly threaded nipple inserted through a hole in .the lid 10 and screwed into the bushing 19. 21 is a pipe which has its end inserted into the nipple 20 and which is connected to a supply of water, such as to the radiator tank, thereby insuring the tank of a full" supply of water. The pipe 21 is preferably provided with a valve 22- so that the tank may be replenished at intervals if thought more desirable.

23 represents a plurality of wicks of cotton or other suitable material, whose upper ends are inserted through holes 24 in the upper wall of the tank 14 so as to be alwaysimmersed in water. The other ends of the wicks are led downwardly and across the throat 16 and are anchored in place, as by being inserted or clampedinto collars 25 formed by bending the free ends of the brackets 15. The wicks are: preferably secants to said throat and are distributed and disposed so that the air drawn up through the throat will be subjected to the moisture of the wicks, absorbing the same before entering the carburetter pipe 3.

The air is admitted to the container 5 be I low the throat l6 and" preferably somewhat the passage of the air.-

above the bottom of the container. The gradually upwardly converging character of the throat 16 reduces friction and facilitates By imparting to the air a whirling or I eddying movement in the lower portion of the container, the dirt, dust or particles of other foreign material carried by the air is permitted to be precipitated into the bottom of the container, and its accumulations, may be' removed at proper intervals by removing the bottom 6.

I obtain this circulatory movement of the air by admitting it tangentially of the axis of the container, the inlet pipe 26 being arranged, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 so that the entering air forms an eddy before ascending into the throat l6.

The pipe 26 is connected to the air supply tube inthe usual manner.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the air is cleansed of the impurities held by it in suspension, and it is then moistened by passing through the throat 16 in contact with the wicks v The wicks 23 swell when moistened and thus seal the holes 24 so that there is no escape of the water from the tank 14 except by capillary movement along the wicks, and thus there can be no excess of water supplied and the interior of the container is free from water.

My moistener and cleanser is of inexpensive construction and contains no part liable to wear or breakage. When required, the wicks may be quickly and easily replaced.

The device is of small compass and thus does not take up valuable and limited space.

What I desire to claim is 1. In an air-moistener for an internal combustion engine, the combination of a container having a cover provided with a central aperture, means for admltting air 111130 the lower portion of the container, an annular water tank mounted 'in the upper part of said container,.the central bore of said tank converging upwardly, the upper end of said bore being in alignment with said aperture and being connected to the air intake of the engine carburetor through said aperture, and a plurality of wicks having their ends immersed in the Water contained in said tank and their bodies disposed in said bore, so that the air drawn through said container and bore by the suction of the engine will be moistened by contact with said wicks.

2. In an 'air-moistener for an internal combustion engine, the combination of a container, means for admitting air at one end of the container, anannular water tank removably mounted within the other end of the container, the 'axial bore of the tank forming the air outlet of the container, the inner. wall of said tank converging upwardly and being provided with holes, and

--wicks having their ends inserted'thro'ugh said holes and immersed in'the water and their bodies disposed in said bore for the purpose setforth.

3. In an air-moistener for an internal through said holes and immersed in the water and their vbodies disposed in said bore for the purpose set forth.

4. In an air-moistener for ,an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylindrical container, an annular water tank mounted in and occupying the upper end of said container, the bore of the tank forming the air-outlet assa e of the container gentially in said container whereby ratory and being connecte to t e air intake of the movement is imparted to the air itted engine carburetor, wicks having their ends into 'said container before it passes out extending into the water in sald tank and through said bore.

having their bodies disposed in said bore t9 Si ed at Emsworth, Pa., this 27th day of intercept the current of air, and air inlet Apri 1925. a

1 means at the lower end of the container, said means comprising a conduit opening tan- HENRY J SCHMITT. 

